One of the best parts of being a crafty person is the ability to make beautiful creations that you can give as gifts. There’s nothing quite like sharing the perfect gift that’s been made by hand with a family member, friend or neighbor. In today’s post we have 25 of the best, easy handmade gifts you can make that look expensive, but are thoughtful and budget-friendly!
What Makes a Great Homemade Gift?
As lifelong crafters and lovers of all things handmade, we’ll be the first to agree that not everything handmade makes a great gift. The trick is to make something that either looks expensive (if one were to buy it) or is particularly thoughtful.
Here are some things we think make the best gifts:
- when you make something with a special skill that others don’t have such as sewing, knitting, painting or woodworking;
- professional-looking projects you can make with your Cricut cutting machine or laser engraver;
- a useful gift that someone can use for their home (think blankets, edible gifts, lip balm, bath bombs);
- something personalized or customized to the recipient’s likes and hobbies (are they a gardener, crafter, baker?);
- anything with a photo such as a DIY photo book, photo ornament or other photo decor.
So, whether it’s for the holiday season, a birthday, Mother’s Day or other special occasion, harness your talents and a little thought about the recipient and you’ll always come out with some amazing homemade gifts. Here are some of our favorite handmade gifts along with links to the full DIY tutorials.
25 Easy Handmade Gift Ideas
Functional Homemade Gifts
1
Set of Miniature DIY Notebooks
Do you have a best friend who loves to journal? These pretty handmade journals, along with a lovely fountain pen or fine tip markers are an easy gift that she's sure to love!
Check out this project
2
Gorgeous Beach Themed Cutting Board with Resin
While this craft looks complicated it's actually quite easy to make. This craft makes a special gift for anyone who loves the beach or coastal style in their home. Includes video tutorial as well!
Check out this project
3
A Unique Driftwood Clock
Check out this project
4
Personalized Gamer Mug with Cricut Infusible Ink
Check out this project
5
Personalized Gifts with Cricut Joy
Showing you how easy it is to personalize gifts for the holidays with Cricut Joy.
Check out this project
6
How to Make Easy Crochet Coasters
Wondering how to crochet a coaster? This easy crochet pattern with a step-by-step photo tutorial makes it a great crochet coaster pattern for beginners.
Check out this project
7
Give the Gift of Pampering with a DIY Sugar Scrub
You can make a larger batch of this amazing DIY sugar scrub with some essential oils, ground coffee and a few other simple ingredients. Package the exfoliating scrub in jars for a great gift for co-workers, neighbours or teachers!
Check out this project
Edible DIY Gift Ideas
8
melissaknorris.com
Prepare and give Homemade Brownies-in-a-Jar
Yes, please! This homemade brownie mix in a jar idea looks delicious and thoughtful. Add a pretty gift tag and you are good to go!
Check out this project
9
Assemble a gift of delicious Cocoa-in-a-Jar
Is there anything more delightful than a cup of hot chocolate on a cold Winter day? There is something so warm and cozy about this idea by Happy Hour Projects. We love how pretty the ingredients look layered in the clear glass mason jar. And she provides a beautiful printable tag as well!
Check out this project
10
notquitenigella.com
Clothing and Accesories
11
Sew a Simple Infinity Scarf
With just a bit of fabric and basic sewing skills you can make a beautiful infinity scarf that any gift receipient would be overjoyed to receive.
Check out this project
12
Cross-Back DIY Apron Pattern to Sew (with Printable Template)
Check out this project
13
DIY Earrings with the xTool F1
A laser engraver opens the door to a whole world of handmade gift ideas including acrylic earrings such as these adorable owls. You can also make decor, personalized cutting boards, slate coasters, ornaments and more.
Check out this project
14
How to make a Tshirt Bag
Check out this project
15
Adult’s Easy Free Knitted Headband Pattern
A perfect winter craft, this free knit headband pattern for adults is an easy beginner level knitting project (with video tutorial).
Check out this project
16
Personalized Gifts for Him: DIY Vintage Map Keychain
Check out this project
Handmade Home Decor
17
Reverse Canvas Craft with Dried Lavender
A lovely reverse canvas craft using dried lavender and other decorative embellishments.
Check out this project
18
Upcycle Sweaters into Trendy Decorative Throw Pillows
If you have a sewing machine, making some decorative throw pillows from an old sweater (or find some inexpensive ones at thrift stores) is a simple gift that so useful.
Check out this project
19
DIY Upcycled Cutlery Box Turned Keepsake Box
Check out this project
20
Versatile Pine Cone Wreath
If you have Eastern white pine cones in your area, you can make this impressive yet utterly inexpensive pine cone wreath.
Check out this project
21
Make a Succulent Teacup Planter
Do you have mismatched tea cups or mugs that you don’t use anymore? Maybe ones with chips on them. Or else pick up an inexpensive set at your local thrift store and use them as a container for small plants such as succulents or clipping of other plants you already have at home. Ideally you want to plant any clippings a couple of weeks before to make sure they’ll take.
Check out this project
22
Create a beautiful Arm Knitted Blanket
This is on our must-try DIY list for this year. How lucky would someone be to get an arm knitted blanket for Christmas? And the video tutorial provided by Simply Maggie makes this project doable even for beginner knitters!
Check out this project
23
apieceofrainbow.com
Make these Handy Nested Burlap Storage Boxes
Give the gift of organization to someone on your list. Is there such a thing as too much storage? We don’t think so! And we think these inexpensive DIY nested burlap storage boxes by A Piece of Rainbow are perfect for their practicality. Add some spa-like goods or perhaps some tea and coffee accessories, or even chocolate (I’ll take one, please) and you’ve got a gift basket within a gift.
Check out this project
DIY Gift Ideas for Him
24
curlybirds.typepad.com
A DIY Jack Daniels Soap Dispenser
How cool is this gift idea? I know my hubby would just love it. We have some Crown Royal bottles kicking around that will work just as well hopefully.
Check out this project
25
Father’s Day BBQ Seasoning Mason Jar Labels With Cricut
Give the gift of labelled BBQ seasoning jars for the Grill Master in your family.
Check out this project
26
Cricut Rock’n Picture Frame for Father’s Day
Check out this project
We’d love to hear from you! Which of these DIY gift giving ideas will you make this year? What’s the best handmade gift you’ve ever gotten?
Like it? Pin if for later!
Charlotte Howes
Monday 7th of November 2016
LOVE, LOVE that blanket idea...are the supplies expensive for this?
Jane and Sonja
Tuesday 8th of November 2016
It all depends on the type of yarn you choose but because of the size, this project does require several skeins. We provided some suggestions on our shoppable page that you can check out. Simply Maggie also has BEAUTIFUL arm knitted scarf tutorials if you wanted to try something that required less yarn.